Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 459 · 40 questions

Writing tip (One clause leans on the other): Find the clause that starts with because, although, if, when, since, who, which or that — the subordinate clause (When the rain stopped). On its own it is not a complete sentence. The rest is the main clause (we went out to play): it makes complete sense alone. Choose the joining word by meaning: because → a reason, although → a surprise, if → a condition, when → a time, since → from a time until now, who → a person, which → a thing, that → what someone says, thinks or knows. Sort any sentence: one clause → simple; two main clauses → compound; a main clause + a subordinate clause → complex.

1. 1.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “The boy who won the race is my cousin.” (a) is my cousin (b) who won the race (c) The boy is my cousin
2. 2.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The dog was hungry, and the cat was hungry too.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
3. 3.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “You must wear a helmet, or you may get hurt.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
4. 4.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) died (b) because nobody watered them (c) The plants died
5. 5.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
6. 6.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The bright stars twinkled in the night sky. (b) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (c) The sky was cloudy, but it did not rain. (d) Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.
7. 7.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
8. 8.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) If it rains tomorrow (b) will be cancelled (c) the match will be cancelled
9. 9.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “Kabir thinks ___ the test is easy.” (a) that (b) although (c) who
10. 10.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
11. 11.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “You will catch the bus ___ you leave now.” (a) if (b) although (c) who
12. 12.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) My cousin plays the tabla at weddings. (b) When I opened the door, the cat ran in. (c) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (d) It was very cold, so we lit a fire.
13. 13.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Arjun opened the window and looked outside.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
14. 14.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The bus ___ goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) if (b) who (c) which
15. 15.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
16. 16.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The bell rang; the children ran out. (b) Riya wore a sweater because it was cold. (c) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (d) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge.
17. 17.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The book which I borrowed is about birds.” (a) is about birds (b) The book is about birds (c) which I borrowed
18. 18.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The mango was green, yet it was very sweet. (b) When the water boiled, Mum added the rice. (c) The tired players rested under a neem tree. (d) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.
19. 19.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) You will catch the bus if you leave now. (b) My cousin plays the tabla at weddings. (c) The shop was closed, so we went home. (d) The crow dropped the stone and flew away.
20. 20.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The girl ___ sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) who (b) which (c) because
21. 21.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (b) Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework. (c) The match ended; everyone went home. (d) The bright stars twinkled in the night sky.
22. 22.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
23. 23.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We ate the cake ___ Grandma baked.” (a) which (b) who (c) if
24. 24.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The soup looked plain, but it tasted great.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
25. 25.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Riya wore a sweater because it was cold.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
26. 26.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) We hope that it will not rain. (b) Joseph painted a boat on the wall. (c) The milk was sour, so Mum threw it away. (d) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.
27. 27.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (b) I called Meera, but she did not answer. (c) The camel carried heavy bags across the sand. (d) If you heat ice, it melts.
28. 28.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The boy ___ won the race is my cousin.” (a) because (b) who (c) which
29. 29.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Manav kicked the ball over the fence.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
30. 30.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) Which (b) Although (c) When
31. 31.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The plants died ___ nobody watered them.” (a) although (b) who (c) because
32. 32.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our team practised hard, so we won the cup. (b) The farmers harvested the wheat in April. (c) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (d) The kite which Dad made for me is red.
33. 33.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
34. 34.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) Which (b) When (c) Although
35. 35.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) Although (b) Because (c) Which
36. 36.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) Who (b) Although (c) Because
37. 37.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Riya has lived in Pune since she was five.” (a) since she was five (b) Riya has lived in Pune (c) has lived in Pune
38. 38.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) got full marks (b) Zoya got full marks (c) Although the test was hard
39. 39.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) Because (b) Which (c) Although
40. 40.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence

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